Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. (John 7:14-18)

Seeking The Glory Of The One

The testimony of Jesus was a very clear demonstration of the power of God yet many remained confused as to who Jesus really was. Some called Jesus a good man but others thought Him to be a deceiver. His teaching contradicted what was known of His education because Jesus was not a man of letters or an educated man. He confounded the teachers at the temple when He was twelve years old without the benefit of formal schooling. Often the Jewish leaders sought to trap Jesus in His teaching but to no avail. The Jews marveled that an uneducated man could be so versed in the Law and Prophets without the recognition of an education. Jesus was truly an unusual man.

What made the teaching of the man from Nazareth so powerful was the words He spoke were nothing more than the words of His Father. All Jesus taught came from the will of God. He was sent by His Father to teach the things concerning the salvation of man’s soul. Every word came from the mouth of God. Jesus never took it upon Himself to say anything that did not proceed from the throne of His Father. All the Jews had to do to be pleasing to God was to follow the words spoken by Jesus because everything He said came from God. It may have been the simplicity of the message that challenged the people of His time but Jesus only said what His Father instructed Him to say.

The contrast in Jesus day was demonstrated by the teachings of men and what He taught the people. There was a clear difference in the manner the Jewish leaders taught the people and the authority of Jesus in His teaching. Listening to the words of Jesus, the people recognized He spoke with authority. Jesus observed when men seek their own will they will speak words that befit their own agenda. Many will boast of great swelling words to draw attention of the people to themselves but this is not the case when speaking the words of God. More often than not, teaching the wisdom of God brings affliction and a need to change. The words of men are nothing more than a false façade of wisdom while the words of God are true. Men speak to gain glory from others. Speaking only the words of God gives glory only to the Father.

There is a need for this lesson to be shown to the world. Religions abound that give glory to men rather than God. People are easily deceived into believing the lie of those who speak great swelling words of so-called wisdom without seeing whether the words come from God. The Lord has given all men the ability to read and understand His words yet few men do. Paul told the Ephesian saints they could read and understand his knowledge of the mystery of God because the only thing the apostle taught was the word of God. Standing on the promise of God’s word will never bring a teacher into conflict with the word of God. Preaching the word and the word only will declare the glory of God to men. Changing the words of God to fit the wisdom of men will bring glory to man. Jesus only taught the words of His Father. His authority came from the authority of God alone. How can we do any less? Read the Bible and establish the words of God as your pattern of authority and guidance. Reject the wisdom of men and accept the will of the Lord.